@Gruven_Reuven, I totally agree…it is so much easier to block someone on-line than in person. I am always amazed at what people will say to your face. On-line, I have done my fair share of blocking…one click and they are gone.

I love the fact that you hold study sessions on SL, that is really cool and probably makes it so much easier to include folks from all over the world. I have an SL account, but have yet to venture out there…it’s a bit intimidating.

I am so sorry to hear about the Vegas incident, that is truly terrible.

Interesting point, But then again, I think this is a problem in Real Life as well. The advantage of social media is we can block/turn off such individuals. Actually we can do that much easier via Social Media. For example, I am openly Jewish both online and IRL, and as such I have been subjected to anti-Semitism in both. It’s pretty easy to boot/Block a person who is messing with me, or interrupting a Study Session I am holding on SecondLife. I wish I had that sort of ability In real life when confronted. (for example I nearly had the stuffing beat out of me in Vegas were it not for a Police car to pull up in the nick of time) That’s only one example where I wish I could simply click a “go away” button in Real Life.

Then again my example is extreme, however I think the same hold true for folks who “innocently” cross the line (that you may not want to block). But doesn’t that happen IRL as well? People misinterpret us there as well. Although I guess it probably happens more in Social Media.

We do this so we can compartmentalize life and make it nice and tidy to understand. But relationships are always more complex than this.

Onine updates can:

1) create credibility – What you say seems to make sense or resonate with the way I view the world around me. You are someone I might want to let rub off on me.
2) attract the trust of others by serving them: meeting the needs of others by sending them to the right resources. One woman wanted an online credit card processing contact. I had five to give her w/ recommendations on how each might work for her.
3) repel others by trying to sell them: nobody wants to be sold anything, we all want to buy. if we try to sell ourselves or our wares, people run.
4) create an initial connection – hmmm…maybe there is more here to help both our businesses…let’s get a cup of coffee.
5) clarify there is no connection – people who are raging networkers – trying to contact everyone – make me run the other way. Stop networking and build a network. Stop trying to build a list of contacts and start making meaningful connectios with a few people.

And please, please don’t encourage the social scientists by adopting big business buzz words like “ambient awareness”. People buy from people, and they buy more from people they like. I’ve never bought anything from someone who was a master of “ambient awareness”.

@WhitneyHoffman, from a business perspective, you raise a great point regarding changing our mindsets to “what can I do for you.” Providing a platform is really important and you won’t know the answers to that question unless you ask and listen. Through micro comments we might be able to perceive what someone wants and who they are, but you won’t truly know because there’s always the potential for misperceived inflections or context, etc. That’s where the usefulness of ambient awareness ends and face-to-face begins (if that’s what the next step is).
I also like the use of eavesdropping. From a “friend” perspective it does seem like that. I wonder if businesses see it as eavesdropping or research.

@KimWood, interesting that you say that. Being here at Small Business Marketing Unleashed in OH this week, a lot of people are making that same comment “I feel like I know them already because of Twitter.” But do you really know them or just the persona they put out there? Personally, I think what’s great is when you feel you know them (based on 140 character blips), then you meet them and they ARE the same. That’s pretty cool! At that point you’ve found someone who is truly sharing themselves to develop relationships on- and off-line (i.e. transparency).

@Gruven_Reuven, So true…even in person we are guarded (in the name of ‘professionalism’). I really like your examples—they help to connect the dots. I am sure your son thought your friend was omnipotent! As I meet more and more on-line people IRL, the conversations do go to the next level because the awkward ‘how are you moment’ was established months ago. And that’s great when it’s someone we want to know us…but what about those folks who think they know us, but then cross the line because they don’t really? Just one more thing to consider.

@Chel, we met in Philly before we started following each other on Twitter, so do you think that we wouldn’t have conversations on Twitter if we hadn’t meet first in person? It’s almost seems like the proverbial chicken and egg question. What comes first communication or conversation? I see your point though; it’s more like taking the pulse of the community when it’s in 140-characters. It seems so simple for us to say, yes, it’s the same thing for companies…they just need to ask ‘what can I do for you’ and listen. But they really struggle with this basic concept. I think the tides are turning, but it’ll take time. Thanks for picking up this post in the Vibemetrix Daily Vibe, it’s much appreciated!

@Webconomist, interestingly enough LinkedIn keeps coming up in conversation as a ‘social network.’ It’s moved from being an on-line resume, on-line rolodex to network because people are taking advantage of the Q&A portion to have discussions. But, to your point recommendations are very important. I just heard from someone on Twitter that some corporations do not allowing employees to provide recommendations for other (or previous) employees. This strikes me as odd because it’s also a recommendation for the company (yes, we hire great people!).